"In the past, Aircraft Carrier and I were indeed nobles, but our father was not a Hereditary Noble, only a Lifelong Noble," Illustrious said calmly.
"What is a Lifelong Noble? Never mind, as long as I know you were nobles before. Actually, I have a question I want to ask you, a question I heard only nobles know the answer to!" Nagato said, grabbing Illustrious's small hand and leaning closer.
Illustrious was a bit overwhelmed by Nagato suddenly leaning in, as the faint, elegant fragrance from Nagato's body wafted over her, making Illustrious's voice slightly nervous. "Uh! Just ask whatever you want! I'll tell you everything I know."
Seeing her older sister's skin close to another girl's made the Sister-Con Aircraft Carrier very unhappy. Aircraft Carrier quickly pushed Nagato away, stood in front of Illustrious, and said coldly, "Don't you dare come near my sister! Sister is mine."
Nagato didn't mind Aircraft Carrier pushing her away. Seeing Aircraft Carrier's expression that seemed to say, 'You Dirty Fox, stay away from my sister,' Nagato's mouth twitched slightly. She said helplessly, "Don't worry, I'm not interested in your sister. I just want to ask her a question that only nobles would know."
"If what you say is true, then it's fine. But you are not allowed to use your body to get close to my sister again. I will be watching your every move from the side. If you get close to my sister again, hmph! I'll show you what I can do." Aircraft Carrier finally relaxed after seeing that Nagato wasn't interested in her sister, but she still remained wary of Nagato.
"Aircraft Carrier, how can you speak to Nagato like that! She is our benefactor for letting us stay here! Hurry up and apologize to Nagato," Illustrious scolded Aircraft Carrier sternly.
"Hmph! I did nothing wrong. I won't apologize to this person," Aircraft Carrier said defiantly towards someone who might steal her sister away.
Seeing Aircraft Carrier's determined refusal to apologize, Illustrious felt helpless and stopped forcing her. If she pushed too hard, it wouldn't be good if Aircraft Carrier's heart started hurting. Alas, she usually spoiled her too much.
"Uh, I'm sorry. Aircraft Carrier is still young, please don't mind her. If you have anything you want to ask, go ahead! I will tell you everything I know." Illustrious had no choice but to deal with Aircraft Carrier's behavior.
"It's fine. This just shows how good your relationship is. I wish I had a little sister too, then I wouldn't have to play alone," Nagato said with a touch of envy.
"Oh, right, I forgot to ask you my question. Actually, I wanted to ask if you know a Beastman named Curtis in the Beastkin Kingdom!" Nagato asked, sounding expectant.
"I'm sorry, I don't know Curtis. Is that Beastman related to you?" Illustrious only knew that the Beastkin Kingdom was located in the north of the Glorious Continent. But if asked whether she knew a Beastkin named Curtis, she apologized that she did not. She hadn't even met all the important figures in her own country, let alone those in the distant northern Beastkin Kingdom!
Hearing that Illustrious didn't know, Nagato was a little disappointed. "You don't know! Who is he to me? I'm not afraid to tell you, the name Curtis might be my father. I heard it when Mama was talking in her sleep. When Mama talks in her sleep, she always says, 'Curtis, my love, why haven't you come back for me? Don't you love me anymore?'"
Nagato had originally thought that since Illustrious was a noble, she would be knowledgeable and know a Beast Kin named Curtis. She didn't expect Illustrious to be unaware. But then again, she wasn't from the Beastkin Kingdom, so how could she possibly know the name Curtis? Perhaps she should look for a Beast Kin noble to get information!
Seeing Nagato's expression, Illustrious knew Nagato wanted to help her mother find Curtis—Nagato's father—so their family could reunite. It was a pity Illustrious didn't know the Beast Kin Curtis. "Don't be so disappointed. Although I am also the daughter of a noble, nobles are divided into ranks: Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, and Baron, from highest to lowest. My father is the lowest rank, a Baron. If you ask a higher-ranking noble, I believe they will certainly know information about your father."
"Nobles are also divided into ranks? If that's the case, then asking a Duke should let me know about my father! Great, I'll ask a Duke next time." Nagato immediately regained her spirits after hearing Illustrious say that a Duke would surely know about her father, and she planned to seek out a Duke for information when she had the chance.
Seeing Nagato's eagerness to immediately find a Duke for information, Illustrious felt reluctant to crush her hopes, especially since Nagato had just recovered her spirits. Nobles of the Duke rank are not easily met, even by a noble of the Count rank, let alone Nagato, the daughter of a villager!
After bathing, the three little girls dried themselves and immediately put on clothes. Nagato's figure was similar to Illustrious's, so the clothes fit perfectly. However, Aircraft Carrier was a bit smaller, so the clothes were slightly loose.
"My chest feels a little tight! But I can still wear it. Aircraft Carrier, though, looks like the clothes are too big. It seems we'll have to go to town tomorrow and buy some clothes." Illustrious muttered softly.
Seeing the clean Illustrious and Aircraft Carrier dressed in her clothes, Nagato was slightly surprised by their appearance. Before washing, they looked filthy, like refugees, and their appearance seemed rather ordinary.
Now, having washed and put on clean clothes, they were incredibly beautiful and lovely. To be so captivating at such a young age, it was hard to imagine how devastatingly beautiful they would be when they grew up.
"So cute! Come let big sister give you a hug!" Fielan immediately pulled Illustrious and her sister into her arms and rubbed against them vigorously.
"Mom, you're already so old, yet you still have the nerve to call yourself 'big sister.' Aren't you embarrassed?" Nagato, Fielan's biological daughter, spoke mercilessly to her mother.
Nagato didn't want to criticize her mother like that, but if her mother was called 'big sister' by Illustrious, what should she, the daughter, call Illustrious? Would she have to call Illustrious 'Auntie'? That would mess up the seniority!
"I think Fielan is quite young and pretty! There's nothing wrong with calling her 'big sister'!" Illustrious said seriously, without batting an eye.
"Nagato, how could you talk to your mother like that? Mommy is so sad, I feel like I raised an ingrate, woo woo woo!" Fielan put on a show of being heartbroken and already crying.
"Mom, stop the fake crying. We have guests today, can't you act like a proper adult?" Nagato, having spent a long time with her mother, was immune to this crying trick and stated pointedly that she wouldn't fall for it.
Fielan immediately stopped her fake crying, feeling a little confused. Had her acting skills gotten worse? She was exposed so quickly by her daughter.
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